The stained glass in the cathedral dome cast mottled patches of light across Beatrice's knees as her fingers unconsciously twisted the lace at her collar.
It was a spacious room. A priest sat motionless atop a stone platform in the middle. He wore a metal apparatus made of mechanical components over his head, covering his eyes and obscuring his face.
A single candle burned quietly in the corner. Candlelight Society churches enshrined many such flames, keeping them alight day and night.
The girl lightly bit her lip and silently watched the candle. When she counted the thirty-seventh tear of wax falling from it, the flame atop the bronze candlestick suddenly shrank by half an inch.
The priest seated on the stone platform abruptly raised his head, clutching at his collar as he gasped for breath.
Beatrice suddenly clenched the silver holy emblem at her chest and rose to her feet, her face full of anticipation.
"My apologies, Lady Joan. We still haven't found Castel's anchor. Their beacon seems to have vanished directly into the Sea of Unconsciousness."
The young priest removed the divination device from his face, his complexion slightly pale. Diving into the Sea of Unconsciousness placed an enormous burden on the body. Even with the Candlelight Society's specialized equipment to assist them, it was still greatly exhausting.
Beatrice's gaze dimmed somewhat. She nodded softly. "Just call me Beatrice. May I ask what it means for the beacon to have vanished? I've never dived into the Sea of Unconsciousness before, and I don't know much about the means of communication between churches. Could you explain it to me in detail?"
"Of course, my lady." The priest nodded and skillfully put on a kind smile. Although Beatrice was merely a noble young lady without a title, he did not dare